Celebration service for Steve Lynn Russell, 56, will be 2 p.m. Monday, November 2, 2009, at the Harvey-Douglas Centennial Chapel with Pastor Bobby Freeman officiating.
Born in Ardmore, Oklahoma on October 14, 1953, to Bill and Peggy (Cox) Russell, he passed from this life on October 28, 2009, at his Springer, Oklahoma, residence.
Steve grew up in Ardmore and attended Lincoln Elementary, Ardmore Junior High and Ardmore High School. He attended Springer High School his last year. In 1971 he joined the Navy and served his country on the USS Engage. After his service to our country, he returned to Ardmore briefly then moved to Houston, Texas, and worked for Armco Steel. Steve then married the former Brenda Brightwell of Springer on June 23, 1976.
Steve showed an early interest in motorcycles. From a very young age he worked on bikes, motorcycles, cars, anything with wheels, but especially motorcycles. He worked for Datsun in Ardmore, for Davidson’s Honda Shop and Jack Bryant’s bike shop, both in Gainesville, Texas, and he also worked for his good friend and mentor, Floyd Gaither at Gaither’s Bike shop in Ardmore. Steve was what is affectionately known as a gear head.
Steve also loved motor sports. He worked on the Stidham Brothers race team on a TAF called “Time Machine” and became close friends with Ronnie. He built his first drag bike in his and Brenda’s spare bedroom. You could say this was the start of his first business. He built a shop in his back yard and moved his tool box from the bedroom. He began building drag bikes for his fellow gear head friends. Some new friends, but most he had known all of his life, like Danny Lampkin. Steve was a self-made man and had a great aptitude for making bikes go fast. His business grew and moved to several locations in the downtown Ardmore area. During the 1980s he won several championships at Ardmore Raceway in Springer. Steve also won Divisional races in the 1980s and 1990s, including 2 Wallys and 2 Oscars. Of all his honors and championships the one he was most proud of was Sportsman of the Year voted by his fellow racers in Springer. His pride and joy that overshadowed all his devotion to the sport was the birth of his daughter, Cassie Lynn Russell on July 28, 1983. She was the apple of his eye and as she grew older she went with him to the drag races.
In 1992, Steve sold his Motorcycle Supply and changed his career path. After moving to Springer, he attended Ardmore Truck Driving School and earned his commercial drivers license. After working for several trucking companies, he decided he would start his own company.
In 2004, with help from his brother Randall, Low E.T. Trucking was in business. Steve was owner/operator of his Kenworth for five years. During that time, two more sweet little apples shined in his eyes. His granddaughters Karissa and Avallonis were born in May 2005 and October 2007 respectively. Steve loved all of his girls very much, first Brenda, then Cassie then later Karissa and Ava. Karissa instantly became the center of his life and as life went on, he never looked back. He and Brenda sold his truck in May of 2009 soon after his illness. Steve was a dedicated family man and would do anything for any one of them.
Steve has left behind his wife and best friend, Brenda, his daughter Cassie and her husband Caleb Glave, his granddaughters, Karissa and Avallonis, brothers Randall Russell, Ardmore, Casey Russell and his wife Marguerite, and sister Jo Donna Hutchison, all of Oklahoma City, nieces and nephews Jamie and Doug Hutchinson, and Eric and Ansley Russell, his in-laws, Sam and Barbara Brightwell, and Bruce Brightwell, all of Springer, aunts Gertrude Burgin, Oklahoma City, Norma Lewis, and Wayne’s widow Pam Russell of Wilson, Oklahoma, numerous cousins, and his many friends and racing family. Steve was preceded in death by his mother, Peggy Russell in April, 2008 and his father, Bill J. Russell, in 1991, several aunts and uncles, most recently his uncle, Wayne Russell.
Steve will leave a large hole in our family and in our hearts that can never be filled. He was a good man, husband, father, PaPa, son, brother, uncle, nephew, son-in-law, and friend. He will be greatly missed. His granddaughters will always have him and his love for them, in their hearts and lives through all our memories of him. He will never be forgotten.
Memorials may be made to Cross Timbers Hospice, or the cancer charity of your choice.
Condolences maybe made online at www.hdouglasfuneralhome.com.
Services are under the direction of the Harvey-Douglas Funeral Home & Crematory.
